ESPN Analyst Predicts ‘Next Level’ For Drake Maye If Patriots Land A.J. Brown originally appeared on NESN.
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Drake Maye and the New England Patriots are still waiting to see if major reinforcements are on the way before the 2026 season.
The Patriots have remained connected to trade chatter involving A.J. Brown all offseason. Rumors will likely intensify as June 1 approaches, as the Philadelphia Eagles reportedly would wait until after that date to move the star wide receiver for salary cap purposes.
ESPN analyst Booger McFarland considered how acquiring Brown would impact Maye on Wednesday’s “NFL Live.” The two-time Super Bowl champion believes the wide receiver would “without a doubt” make the runner-up MVP quarterback better.
“We’re assuming that this A.J. Brown is gonna go through,” McFarland said. “And if it does, what it does for Drake Maye is give him a bona fide No. 1 (receiver). Somebody that, regardless of what the coverage is on the play, regardless of what the down and distance is, Drake Maye has somebody to throw the football to. Every quarterback in the National Football League needs that.”
McFarland noted that Joe Burrow has Ja’Marr Chase, and Patrick Mahomes has leaned on Travis Kelce after starting his career with Tyreek Hill. Maye benefited from the Patriots adding Stefon Diggs last offseason, but Brown could give the 23-year-old a significant playmaker.
That could make New England’s offense more dangerous in 2026 after tallying the NFL’s third-most yards last season.
“Everybody needs somebody that, when the chips are down, you can throw the football to. And preferably, that needs to be a guy on the outside playing the X position that can win one-on-one battles,” McFarland said. “So, if they do make this trade, I think that’s gonna take Drake Maye’s game to the next level. It’s gonna make this Patriots offense a little bit more diverse and give them some more weapons on the outside.”
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